Teacher Vision
The First Thanksgiving - Pilgrim Study Unit
Students explain the origins of Thanksgiving. As a class, they list all the meanings, stories, and images that come into their minds when they hear the word "Thanksgiving." After reading about Thanksgiving, pairs of students create 4...
Scholastic
Pilgrim and Wampanoag Daily Life for Grades 3-5
Thirteen steps make up a lesson that challenges pupils to compare and contrast the daily lives of Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe. Learners revisit the Graffiti Wall then break into small groups for an investigative reading assignment...
ESL Library
Beginner Level Thanksgiving ESL Lesson Plan
Thanksgiving is a cherished tradition in the United States and Canada. Introduce the beginnings of the Thanksgiving celebration with a resource that features reading comprehension activities, vocabulary exercises, and a short writing...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Menu
Students explore the First Thanksgiving. In this U.S. history lesson, students read about the Pilgrims and Native Americans and discuss how they obtained and prepared food. Students develop a possible first Thanksgiving menu and draw a...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving History
First graders decode Thanksgiving vocabulary while learning about the history of this holiday. In this Thanksgiving history lesson, 1st graders listen to a story, trace their hands to make turkey feathers and listen to a turkey poem. ...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lost Hero: Was John Hanson Actually the First President?
The first president of the United States was ... John Hanson? Scholars investigate the notion that the initial leader of the nation was not George Washington. Using research, articles, and open discussion, individuals create a quest for...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Dinner
Students plan a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. In this Thanksgiving lesson, students compare and contrast the first Thanksgiving to Thanksgiving celebrations today. Students plan a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and research the costs...
Story Corps
The Great Thanksgiving Listen
StoryCorp provides a resource that captures and preserves the remembrances of family or community elders. Prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, class members select a person they want to interview, record the conversation, and then upload...
Scholastic
Pilgrim and Wampanoag Daily Life for Grades 6–8
Two slide shows, viewed side-by-side, permit middle schoolers to compare and contrast the lives of the Pilgrims of the Plimoth colony and the Wampanoags. Four videos take learners on virtual field trips to the Plymouth plantation. And an...
Curated OER
The First Thanksgiving
Third graders see the differences between the first Thanksgiving and the present day Thanksgiving. They create a menu for a Thanksgiving dinner after listening to a short article and helping the teacher create a Venn diagram. Students...
Utah State University
Imagine Me at the First Thanksgiving
Students imagine what they think the First Thanksgiving was like and then draw a picture of themselves at the First Thanksgiving for a class book.
Curated OER
Introduction to Indians and the First Thanksgiving
Students use yarn to create a timeline of the first Thanksgiving. After a class discussion, they view pictures of artifacts and Native Americans to identify the tools and items present during the first Thanksgiving. In groups, they...
Curated OER
The History of Thanksgiving Day
Students discover details about the original Thanksgiving celebration. In this Thanksgiving lesson, students read an article about the topic and respond to questions about it. Students then plan a Thanksgiving celebration.
Utah State University
Thanksgiving History
First graders examine the history of the first Thanksgiving and compare the first Thanksgiving with how we celebrate it today. They listen to and discuss the book "The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving," answer discussion questions about the...
University of Manchester
Thanksgiving and Being Thankful
Students share with the class what they are thankful for. In this Thanksgiving instructional activity, students create place-mats for Thanksgiving. Students discuss ways we honor and celebrate Thanksgiving. They then make a list of...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving
Teach little learners about the first Thanksgiving. In this Thanksgiving lesson, young scholars discover what it was like to live during that time period. Students compare and contrast the first Thanksgiving to their own.
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving
Students study tier two vocabulary words. In this vocabulary lesson, students explore new vocabulary words while reading The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving. Students record their new vocabulary words using a word journal or discovery chart.
Curated OER
Pilgrims: The First Americans
Fifth graders become familar with the pilgrims and first Thanksgiving through essays about important people of the time. In this Thanksgiving activity, 5th graders choose an important figure from the time of the Pilgrims and write a two...
Teacher Created Resources
Thanksgiving Coupon Book
Students create a Thanksgiving coupon book. In this holiday lesson, students review the history of Thanksgiving and create coupon books to give to someone who they are thankful for.
Curated OER
A Turkey for Thanksgiving - Lesson #2
Second graders investigate realistic fiction, holiday celebrations, making tally charts. For this multi-disciplinary lesson, 2nd graders listen to a story about Thanksgiving and one about the Chinese New Year to develop an understanding...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Web Quest
Students review the reasons why Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States. Using the internet, they research the history of the holiday and discover what the first Thanksgiving was like. They also examine a typical menu for a...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving Then and Now
Students create a Venn diagram to compare the Pilgrim's "First Thanksgiving" with today's Thanksgiving celebration. They use one type of graphic organizer, a Venn diagram, talk and read about the Thanksgiving celebration of 1621 at...
Curated OER
Thanksgiving History
First graders gain knowledge about the first Thanksgiving, how the pilgrims lived and the differences between our Thanksgiving today and the Thanksgivings of the past. They recognize different parts of the word Thanksgiving.
Curated OER
The First Thanksgiving
Students explore the first Thanksgiving through the use of literature. Students discuss the pilgrims and where they came from as well as how the Native Americans helped the Pilgrims. Students create Pilgrim hats.